Abdullah out; Afghanistan run-off on

KABUL: Afghanistan receded further into political turmoil yesterday after presidential candidate Abdullah Abdullah said he would not participate in the November 7 run-off. He said he made his decision after President Hamid Karzai turned down his demands for changes to the Independent Election Commission and other measures that he said would prevent massive fraud.

Abdullah's decision leaves a cloud over the legitimacy of the next government. A weakened Afghan government under President Hamid Karzai would also be a blow for US President Barack Obama as he decides whether to send up to 40,000 more US troops to fight a resurgent Taliban in Afghanistan.

Election officials said hours later that the November 7 vote would go ahead with both names on ballot papers but with Karzai as the only candidate.